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BOISE, Idaho (AP) - Anthony Drmic scored 23 points to lead Boise State to an 80-59 victory over Utah Wednesday night.
Ryan Watkins and Drew Wiley added 11 points apiece to help Boise State (2-0) notch its largest victory over a Pac-12 program. The Broncos defeated Oregon State 76-65 on Dec. 21, 1977.
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Josh Watkins scored 19 points and Anthony Odunsi added 14 for Utah (1-1), which never led in the contest.
The Broncos were 10 of 18 from 3-point range, with Drmic leading the way with five.
The 6-foot-6 Drmic, a freshman from Australia, says he doesn't yet understand the difference in the caliber of conference.
"I guess that's one advantage coming in here from Australia," Drmic said. "I'm not fearing the really good teams, if that makes sense. Just going out there and doing what I can and just playing hard."
Drmic had 14 first-half points and connected on four of Boise State's six first-half 3-pointers as the Broncos dashed to a 39-20 halftime lead. Drmic nailed 3-point shots for the Broncos' first two baskets.
Drmic also hit two 3-pointers during a 20-4 run that helped Boise State boost its lead to 39-18.
"My team was setting good screens, getting me open and I was just getting them in so it was a good game," Drmic said.
Utah committed 19 turnovers in its second game under new coach Larry Krystkowiak. The Utes narrowly defeated NAIA San Diego
Christian in his debut on Monday. "There are no issues with me in terms of our effort," Krystkowiak said. "I do think we need to play harder on offense."
The Utes have just four returning players and two are ailing. Junior guard Chris Hines made his season debut for Utah after missing the opener with a rib injury suffered two weeks ago, and scored three points in 11 minutes. Utah also played without senior center David Foster, sidelined indefinitely with a foot injury.
But Utah's biggest issue was dealing with the barrage of Boise State's 3-point shots. Wiley, who made three 3-pointers, said the intent wasn't to take long-range shots but the Utes left the perimeter unguarded.
"One thing I think that you have to pay attention to is those 3s added up pretty quickly," said Krystkowiak, "and they've got guys that surround the 3-point line."
The victory was Boise State's first over a Pac-12 program since defeating Oregon State during the 2003-04 season, but Broncos coach Leon Rice downplayed the significance.
"Basketball is so different than anything else," Rice said. "We're all just basketball teams. I don't think kids pay too much attention to that anymore. You just play so many games outside of leagues and probably the Aussies (Drmic and guard Igor Hadziomerovic) don't even know what the Pac-12 team is."
Dijon Farr added 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting for Utah.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
